“When I was very young at school, we made the tour to see Rome. And I remember, very well, the Colosseum was, ‘Wow,’ ” says Diego Della Valle, sitting in his office, which is also pretty wow—larger than a tennis court, illuminated by natural light, and filled with contemporary art—in the sprawling factory complex in Le Marche, Italy's central heartland, that is home to his company, Tod's. “It was super big. And it is one of the things from life that is big when you are little but remains big when you are big.”
Tod's, too, is big—one of the most significant fashion brands in Europe— producing refined, Italian-made shoes, bags, and clothing for men and women. The Tod's Group, which includes shoe and accessories manufacturer Roger Vivier, lifestyle brand Hogan,…
